One piece sealing ring

ABSTRACT

A sealing ring for use with a computer tape reel wherein the ring is formed as an integral molded strip having a stiff arcuate portion adjacent one strip end with a radius of curvature approximating that of the reel, and a generally flexible portion extending from the stiff arcuate portion; the stiff portion is built up adjacent its free end to provide an integral keeper structure for coaction with an overcenter latch assembly secured to the free end of the flexible portion, and the radially outer face of the stiff portion is moldingly configured to provide a hook structure adjacent the keeper structure for hanging storage of the ring and encircled reel.

United States Patent 1191 Osojnak 14 1 Sept. 3,1974

[ ONE PIECE SEALING RING [76] Inventor: Boris M. Osojnak, 512 Roanoke Dr., Birmingham, Mich. 48010 [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 186,014

[52] US. Cl. 206/53, 206/52 F, 264/241 [51] Int. Cl B65d 85/67, B65h 75/02 [58] Field of Search 206/52 F, 53, 59 E;

[56] 1 References Cited- UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1963 Morrison 206/53 11/1964 Hamish 206/52 F 3,227,269 1/1966 Martinez et al. 206/52 F 3,310,178 3/1967 Wright 1 312/20 3,424,303 1/1969 Osojnak 206/53 3,599,786 8/1971 Osojnak 206/52 F Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Donald L. Wood [5 7 ABSTRACT A sealing ring for use with a computer tape reel wherein the ring is formed as an integral molded strip having a stiff arcuate portion adjacent one strip end with a radius of curvature approximating that of the reel, and a generally flexible portion extending from the stiff arcuate portion; the stiff portion is built up adjacent its free end to provide an integral keeper structure for coaction with an overcenter latch assembly secured to the free end of the flexible portion, and the radially outer face of the stiff portion is moldingly configured to provide a hook structure adjacent the keeper structure for hanging storage of the ring and encircled reel.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEnsEP 3mm INVENTOR. Zara: am 574/? BY ONE PIECE SEALING RING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sealing rings adapted to sealingly encircle a reel of the type having a central spool and spaced flanges. More particularly, it relates to a sealing ring for use with a computer tape reel, and to a method of making such a ring.

Various forms of sealing rings for computer tape reels are presently available. Certain of these rings, while generally satisfactory in performance and durability, are relatively expensive. Others, while relatively inexpensive, provide minimal protection for the reel contents and are susceptible to excessive wear and breakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved computer tape sealing ring.

A more particular object is to provide a computer tape sealing ring which is inexpensive and yet provides effective and long-lasting protection for the reel contents.

The sealing ring of the invention comprises a strip of plastics material, which is moldingly configured at one end to define a keeper structure, and an articulated latch assembly of the overcenter type which is fixedly secured to the other end of the strip and is adapted to coact with the molded keeper structure to latchingly draw the strip ends together in an overcenter action to form a loop for sealing encirclement of a reel.

According to a further feature of the invention, the strip is further moldingly configured adjacent the keeper structure end to provide a structure extending outwardly away from the radial outer face of the strip and thereafter curving over to define a hook structure to facilitate hanging storage of the sealing ring and encircled reel.

In the disclosed embodiment, the strip is formed in a molding operation as a composite structure including a stiff arcuate portion adjacent one strip end having a radius of curvature approximating that of the reel, and a flexible portion extending from the stiff arcuate portion to the other strip end; the stiff arcuate portion is selectively moldingly configured at its outer face to provide the aforedescribed keeper and hook structures. Following the molding operation, the strip is selectively chopped at the free end of the flexible portion to provide the desired strip length, and an overcenter latch assembly is secured to the chopped end for latching coaction with the molded keeper structure on the free end of the stiff arcuate portion.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a sealing ring according to the invention shown in encircling relation to a computer tape reel;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the sealing ring and reel structure within circle 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a molded band used in the manufacture of the invention sealing ring;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of a portion of the band of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of arrow 4; and

FIGS. 5-10 are transverse cross-sectional views taken on lines '5-5, 66, 77, 8-8,, 9-9, and 10-10, respectively, of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention sealing ring, seen generally at 10in FIG. 1, isespecially suited for use with a reel 12 of the type including a central hollow spool 14 and spaced circular flanges 16,18. Reels of this type are commonly used for winding and storing computer tape.

Sealing ring 10, broadly considered, comprises a band or strip 20 and latch means 22 adapted to draw the ends of the strip together in sealing, encircling relationship to reel 12.

Strip 20 is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4m which reference is now made. Strip 20 is formed in'a molding'operation and includes a stiff arcuate portion 24 adjacent one strip end and having a radius of curvature approximating that of reel 12, and a relatively flexible portion 26 extending from stiff portion 24 to the other end of the strip. The mold (not shown) for forming strip 20 corresponds to the shape of the strip 20 as seenin FIG. 3; that is, the right-hand portion of the mold in which arcuate strip portion 24 is formed is actually arcuate in configuration and the left-hand portion of the mold in which portion 26 is formed is flat in. configuration. Sincethe entire strip is formed of the same plastics material, the generally flexible nature of portion 26 and the stiff nature of portion 24 are produced, respectively, by selectively controlling the cross-sectional configuration of the strip.

Thus, flexible portion 26, as seen inFIG. 5, has a relatively frail cross section including a thin web section 27, circumferential rib sections 28 for seating engagement within the reel flanges, and relatively shallow lip sections 29 for embracing the outer peripheral edges of the reel flanges. Portion 26 may thus be readily bent out of its as-molded flat configuration of FIG. 3 to assume the circular reel wrapping configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2. A portion of the outer face of flexible strip portion 26 is moldingly configured to provide a label holder defined by thin longitudinal lips 30 (FIG. 10) and end lips 31; however, these lips are not sufficiently beefy to appreciably detract from the flexibility of strip portion 26. The outer face of flexible strip portion 26 is further moldingly configured to provide a cored-out protuberance 32, but this protuberance is very local and has no appreciable effect on the general flexibility of strip portion 26.

Stiff portion 24, by contrast, has a relatively bulky cross section, as seen in FIGS. 6-9, and is extremely resistant to deformation out of its as-molded arcuate configuration. Specifically, stiff portion 24 is moldingly configured at its free end 33 to define a keeper structure 34 for latching coaction with latch means 22, and is further moldingly configured inward of keeper structure 34 to provide a hook structure 36.

Keeper structure 34 comprises a moldingly built-up structure on the radially outer face of the strip at free end 33; this built-up structure comprises a platform section 36 raised above the general level of the radially outer face of the strip, and a keeper section 38 moldingly raised centrally on platform section 36. Keeper section 38 includes a flat upper face 38a, an end face 38b coterminous and coplanar with strip end 33, side faces 38c, 38d, and an undercut face 38e remote from end face 38b. Keeper section 38 is selectively cored to provide a core cavity 38f. The transverse cross-section of the keeper structure (FIG. 6) will be seen to be extremely bulky when compared to the frail cross section of flexible strip portion 26 (FIG. Specifically, the overall section has considerably more depth, the ribs 28 are considerably beefier, the lips 29 are deeper (extending down almost to the depth of ribs 28) and the central web section is considerably thicker throughout its transverse width.

Hook structure 36 includes a hook section 40 extending outwardly away from the radially outer face of the strip and thereafter curving over to define a tip end 42. Hook structure 36 further includes a dorsal stiffening tin or rib 44 and a pair of lateral buttresses 46 reinforcing each lateral face of book section 40. Dorsal fin 44 extends from the back side of hook section 40 to keeper section 38 with the upper edge of fin 44 forming a straight line with the upper surface of platform section 36. Hook section 40 is selectively cored to provide a core cavity 48. The transverse section of the hook structure (FIG. 7), like the keeper structure section, will be seen to be extremely bulky with great overall depth, lip sections. extending all the way down to the depth of ribs 28, and a thick central web section.

The section of arcuate strip portion 24 between the hook structure and the keeper structure is also quite stiff (FIG. 8) by virtue of the fill portion 50 between ribs 28, the deep lips 29 extending all the way down to the depth of the ribs, and the dorsal fin 44. Similarly, the section of arcuate portion 24 inward of hook structure 36 is quite stiff (FIG. 9) by virtue of the fill portion 50 between ribs 28 and the deep lips 29 extending to the full depth of ribs 28.

The deep, stiff sections of FIGS. 6-9 will be seen to coact, in toto, to provide extreme stiffness to arcuate strip portion 24 so that portion 24 behaves essentially like a rigid member and retains its as-molded arcuate configuration, in contrast to the readily flexing behavior of strip portion 26.

In the manufacture of the invention sealing ring 10, strip 20 is first formed in a molding operation to provide stiff portion 24 and flexible portion 26, whereafter the total strip length is measured and strip end 52 is chopped to provide the desired strip length. Latch means 22 is thereafter secured to strip end 52 to complete the sealing ring.

Latch means 22 may take any of various overcenter or toggle forms. In the disclosed embodiment, latch means 22 comprises (FIG. 2) an integral three-part structure including an anchor portion 54, an intermediate portion 56 hinged to anchor portion 54 at 58, and a latching portion 60 hinged to intermediate portion 56 at 62. Latch means 22 is secured to strip end 52 by an aluminum rivet 64 passing through a suitable bore in anchor portion 54 and through the strip web 28, which is locally thickened adjacent end 52 (FIG. 3) to provide an adequate mounting structure for the latch means. Latch means 22 of the type shown are available from Southco Division of South Chester Corporation, Lester, Pa., as Part No. 07-10-102.

In use, sealing ring 10 is wrapped around reel 12 with rigid arcuate portion 24 concentrically embracing a corresponding arcuate portion of the reel flanges and flexible portion 26 wrapped flexibly around the remaining reel circumference to dispose strip ends 52 and 33 in juxtaposition, whereafter latch member 60 may be engaged over keeper section 38 with undercut keeper face 38e coacting with latch member face 60a to provide a latching interconnection between the two strip ends; latch member 60 is then pushedv downwardly adjacent end 60b to move intermediate portion 56 into coplanar relation with anchor portion 54 and move hinge axis 62 overcenter with respect to hinge axis 58, whereby to draw the strip ends together in an overcenter action and securely latch the sealing ring on the reel. The sealing ring and encircled reel may now be stored by hanging engagement of hook structure 36 with a suitable rod member (FIG. 1).

It will be apparent that the nature of the plastics material comprising the strip 20 is extremely critical to the effectiveness and durability of the sealing ring. Specifically, the plastics material of strip 20 must be sufficiently supple when formed in the frail section of strip portion 26 to allow repeated flexing and unflexing without strain or fatigue, must be sufficiently stretchable in the frail section of strip portion 26 to stretchingly accommodate normal circumferential variations among reels of a given nominal size, must be sufficiently rigid and strong when formed in the bulky cross section of the keeper structure to preclude creeping or deformation of the keeper section, must be sufficiently rigid and strong when formed in the deep cross section of the hook structure to preclude creeping or failure of the hook section under the relatively heavy weight of the suspended tape reel, and must be sufficiently rigid and strong when formed in the composite section of arcuate strip portion 24 to preclude gapping of the strip away from the encircled reel in the strip area immediately beneath the hook section.

Extensive testing and experimentation with various plastics materials have established that the material of the strip should have the following characteristics:

1. flex modulus as measured by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Test Method D790 of between 60,000 and 110,000 psi with an ideal value of between 95,000 and 100,000 psi;

1 2. Izod impact strength as measured by ASTM Test Method D256 greater than 4.5 ft. lb/in of notch;

3. tensile strength as measured by ASTM Test Method D638 and D651 greater than 3,000 psi; and

4. hardness as measured by ASTM Test Method D785 of less than 55 Rockwell R.

The strip material must also have an extremely high resistance to environmental stress cracking. One material that has been found to satisfy the above characteristics is Eastman Polypropylene 4E1 1A available from Eastman Chemical Division of Eastman Kodak Corporation; however, any plastics material generally satisfying these characteristics may be used in carrying out the invention.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of manufacturing a sealing ring for use with a tape reel of the type including a central spool and spaced flanges, said method comprising the steps of A. moldingly forming a strip of plastics material to provide 1. a stiff arcuate portion adjacent one strip end having a radius of curvature approximating that of said reel and 2. a generally flexible portion extending from said arcuate portion to the other strip end; and

B. providing coacting latch means on said strip ends,

so that said strip may be placed around said reel with said arcuate portion arcuately embracing said flanges and said flexible portion wrapped flexibly around said flanges to depose said strip ends in juxtaposition and allow said strip ends to be latchingly drawn together by said coacting latch means.

2. A method according to claim 1 and including the further step of C. moldingly configuring said arcuate strip portion to provide a stiff hook structure extending outwardly from the radially outer face of said strip.

3. A method according to claim 2 and including the further step of D. moldingly configuring said arcuate strip portion at said one strip end to provide a keeper structure formed as a built-up structure on said radially outer face, said keeper structure providing the aforesaid coacting latch means on said one strip end.

I. a stiff arcuate portion adjacent one strip end having a radius of curvature approximating that of said reel and 2. a generally flexible portion extending from said arcuate portion to the other strip end; and B. coacting latch means on said strip ends, whereby said strip may be placed around said reel with said arcuate portion arcuately embracing said flanges and said flexible portion wrapped flexibly around said flanges to dispose said strip ends in juxtaposition and allow them to be latchingly drawn together by said latch means. 5. A sealing ring according to claim 4 wherein C. said latch means includes 1. a keeper structure moldingly built up on the radially outer face of said arcuate portion adjacent said one strip end and 2. an overcenter latch assembly secured to the other strip end for latching coaction with said radially outer face to provide an integral hook member extending outwardly from said outer face and thereafter curving over for hanging coaction with a suitable hanger member. 

1. A method of manufacturing a sealing ring for use with a tape reel of the type including a central spool and spaced flanges, said method comprising the steps of A. moldingly forming a strip of plastics material to provide
 1. a stiff arcuate portion adjacent one strip end having a radius of curvature approximating that of said reel and
 2. a generally flexible portion extending from said arcuate portion to the other strip end; and B. providing coacting latch means on said strip ends, so that said strip may be placed around said reel with said arcuate portion arcuately embracing said flanges and said flexible portion wrapped flexibly around said flanges to depose said strip ends in juxtaposition and allow said strip ends to be latchingly drawn together by said coacting latch means.
 2. a generally flexible portion extending from said arcuate portion to the other strip end; and B. providing coacting latch means on said strip ends, so that said strip may be placed around said reel with said arcuate portion arcuately embracing said flanges and said flexible portion wrapped flexibly around said flanges to depose said strip ends in juxtaposition and allow said strip ends to be latchingly drawn together by said coacting latch means.
 2. A method according to claim 1 and including the further step of C. moldingly configuring said arcuate strip portion to provide a stiff hook structure extending outwardly from the radially outer face of said strip.
 2. an overcenter latch assembly secured to the other strip end for latching coaction with said molded keeper structure.
 2. a generally flexible portion extending from said arcuate portion to the other strip end; and B. coacting latch means on said strip ends, whereby said strip may be placed around said reel with said arcuate portion arcuately embracing said flanges and said flexible portion wrapped flexibly around said flanges to dispose said strip ends in juxtaposition and allow them to be latchingly drawn together by said latch means.
 3. A method according to claim 2 and including the further step of D. moldingly configuring said arcuate strip portion at said one strip end to provide a keeper structure formed as a built-up structure on said radially outer face, said keeper structure providing the aforesaid coacting latch means on said one strip end.
 4. A sealing ring for use with a tape reel of the type including a central spool and spaced flanges, said ring comprising A. a strip of plastics material having
 5. A sealing ring according to claim 4 wherein C. said latch means includes
 6. A sealing ring according to claim 4 wherein C. said arcuate portion is moldingly configured on its radially outer face to provide an integral hook member extending outwardly from said outer face and thereafter curving over for hanging coaction with a suitable hanger member. 